Rangers made one change from the side who defeated Elgin City at the weekend, with Ross Perry drafted into the starting line-up and Anestis Argyriou missing out with a knock.

Clyde tried their luck early on when Kevin Watt surged into the box from the left before unleashing a shot that fell well over the crossbar and did little to trouble Neil Alexander.

At the other end, Bully Wee goalkeeper Jamie Barclay was called into action to make a decent save from a thunderous Lee McCulloch strike.

Wallace then slotted into the path of Lewis Macleod, who cut across the face of goal for Andy Little but he connected awkwardly and the chance was lost.

Rangers continued to press for the opener and a McCulloch cut-back found Templeton but his powerful strike from distance was straight at Barclay and easily smothered.However, the Clyde goalkeeper was unable to prevent the home side from opening the scoring with 21 minutes gone.

Wallace raced on to a Templeton pass before bearing down on goal and slotting between the legs of Barclay and into the back of the net.

Easy does it: Lee Wallace opens the scoring for Rangers

Rangers manager Ally McCoist was forced to make a change seven minutes later when Little limped out of the action and was replaced by Shiels, who missed the last two games through injury.

Rangers went in search of a second goal and a sequence of neat passes ended with Kyle Hutton's 25-yard effort fizzing inches past the upright.

Hutton had to settle for being the provider instead as the Light Blues doubled their lead in style after 38 minutes.

In the goals: Dean Shiels makes it 3-0 during the second half

Templeton collected from the midfielder and demonstrated excellent control to skip past his marker before curling past the grasp of Barclay with a superb finish.

McCulloch had the net bulging two minutes later after dinking over the keeper but he was denied a goal of his own by the offside flag.

Rangers continued to dominate after the restart and Barrie McKay set up Hutton for a shot that squeezed past several bodies in the box before Barclay gathered.

All smiles: Rangers manager Ally McCoist enjoys the win

McKay then teed up a shot for Templeton but he failed to add to his tally with a strike that cannoned off the body of Gavin Brown and out for a corner.

Hopes of a Clyde comeback were shattered when Rangers claimed their third of the day after 76 minutes.

McKay delivered the pass to the feet of Shiels, who turned and dispatched a low drive into the far bottom corner to secure the points.

Kevin Kyle claimed his first Ibrox goal as Rangers dumped Elgin City from the William Hill Scottish Cup with a comfortable win.

Dean Shiels and Kal Naismith were also on the scoresheet to help ensure safe passage into the fifth round of the competition.

Both clubs would have welcomed the opportunity simply to play this match after last week's Irn-Bru Third Division encounter was postponed when it emerged Elgin had sold too many tickets for the visit of Ally McCoist's men.

Rangers named an unchanged side from their last game, a win over East Stirling, for today's clash in front of a crowd of 23,195.

David Templeton and Francisco Sandaza were both on the bench after lengthy spells on the sidelines through injury, while fit-again youngster Darren Cole was also among the substitutes for the first time this season.

The match was less than two minutes old when Rangers had the ball in the back of the net through Kyle.

But he was denied the opener by the offside flag and the decision looked like it may have been harsh on the striker.

Blocked: Rangers' Barrue McKay sees his shot on goal saved

A minute of applause rang around the stadium in the 2nd minute in support of Light Blues legend Sandy Jardine who is being treated for cancer.

Rangers continued to threaten and the lively Barrie McKay surged into the box from the left before teeing up the shot for Kyle but he connected awkwardly in front of goal and the chance was lost.

At the other end, Neil Alexander was called into action to block an angled drive from Craig Gunn.

The home side still looked the more likely to find the back of the net and Shiels stung the palms of goalkeeper John Gibson with a powerful shot.

Gibson was called into action again moments later, this time to tip wide an impressive 30-yard effort from Ian Black.

With half-time approaching and the match still deadlocked, Lee Wallace burst past Jamie Duff down the left flank before cutting back for Kyle but he fired wide.

Shiels finally had the net bulging two minutes before the break with a shot from a tight angle that fell across the goalkeeper and nestled in the far bottom corner.

Elgin were not too far away shortly after the re-start when Stuart Leslie rifled into the side netting after collecting a teasing ball across the face of goal.

In the draw: Dean Shiels celebrates his goal

Kyle then squandered the chance to double Rangers' lead when he met a McKay cross only to see his header flash wide of the upright.

Black had required treatment for a knock earlier in the game and, clearly still struggling, was replaced by Cole on the hour-mark.

Cole immediately set up Andy Little for a diving header that was off target, before Shiels was prevented from claiming his second of the day by an impressive block from Gibson.

But the goalkeeper was picking the ball out of the net after 69 minutes when Kyle rose above everyone in the box to connect with a McKay corner and nod past the grasp of Gibson.

Only a great save from Alexander prevented Sean Crighton from pulling a goal back for Elgin, before Templeton was thrown into the action with just under 20 minutes to go.

McKay was denied by the woodwork when his deflected effort crashed off the post, before substitute Naismith put the gloss on the win when he slotted past Gibson with 85 minutes on the clock, seconds after replacing Kyle.

Rangers' Irn-Bru Third Division game against Elgin has been postponed because too many tickets were sold.

The Light Blues were set to travel north for Sunday's lunch-time clash at Borough Briggs.

However, the Ibrox club have confirmed the match is off due to 'circumstances completely outwith Rangers Football Club's control'.

Are you sure Rangers boss Ally McCoist trying to sell MORE tickets

A statement from the Scottish
Football League read: 'Following today's pre-ops meeting for the above
match, it has come to light that there has been a substantial oversale
of tickets for this fixture and Elgin City Football Club could not
confirm the exact number of tickets which have been sold for this match.

'Therefore, on the grounds of public safety and in close consultation with all parties, this match has now been postponed.

'Further information regarding tickets which have been sold will be provided as quickly as possible.

Small capacity: The number of tickets sold for the clash here at Borough Briggs was far too high

'Elgin City FC would like to apologise sincerely for this disappointing outcome. The SFL will conduct a full investigation into the circumstances.'

Elgin's apology has been accepted by Rangers, however manager Ally McCoist expressed his disappointment at the postponement.

He said: 'We are disappointed the match has been called off at such short notice and I know Elgin are as well.

'This was due to circumstances
outwith our control but we were informed a short time ago that there was
no way the match could go ahead on safety grounds.

'I am sure this is a huge disappointment to our supporters, who have purchased match tickets and arranged travel in good faith.

'Elgin City have apologised to the club and we accept their apology but I feel for our fans.'